18.3: Microcavity Plasma Devices for Display Applications: Independently Addressable Arrays with Improved Luminous Efficacy

Abstract

Independently addressable arrays of microcavity plasma devices have been fabricated and tested. This presentation reports data demonstrating that these devices provide a basis for alternative PDP cell structures of improved luminosity. The radiant output of Si arrays yields values for the luminous efficacy exceeding 7 lumens/W at 800 Torr of a Ne/50% Xe mixture. Measurements of the unoptimized radiant output of 500 × 500 (250,000) arrays of Si microplasma devices, operating in Ne/(5–50)% Xe mixtures and photoexciting (in transmission mode) a 20 μm thick film of green phosphor, yield values of the luminous efficacy up to 7.2 ± 0.6 lumens/W for a Ne/50% Xe mixture (total pressure of 800 Torr) excited by a 20 kHz sinusoidal voltage waveform. Sustaining voltages ranging from ∼250 to 340 V (RMS) yield luminance values up to ∼2000 cd-m−2 for Ne/50% Xe mixtures without incorporation of MgO. Recent laser spectroscopic measurements of Xe2 (a3∑u+ absorption in the visible and near-infrared suggest steps to be taken in PDP cell design, particularly as the Xe content in Ne/Xe mixtures is increased.